16.11.2009 Protecton of Title of Architect

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley T.D. today jointly launched the new Register for Architects.  Established under the Building Control Act 2007, the Register lists architects whose qualifications meet the standards set out in the Act. Since the commencement of the Act, only architects who are on the Register may use the title ‘Architect’.

Speaking on the implications of the Register for Architects on Ireland’s built environment, Mr. Sean O’Laoire, President of the RIAI said, “Up until now Ireland was almost unique in the absence of registration of the title ‘Architect’. Today is the culmination of a long and hard fought battle to have professional standards set and so protect the public. The Register for Architects will lead to securing higher quality in our built environment for future generations.”

The Register will improve and protect the quality of service to consumers by ensuring that people admitted to the Register have met defined levels of qualification and competence. The system also provides consumers with an advice service and with dispute resolution mechanisms in the case of poor service or suspected malpractice.

The RIAI is the official registration body and competent authority for architects in Ireland and has urged consumers to protect themselves by checking that their architect is registered by logging onto the new online service at www.riai.ie and checking the Register.

Research recently conducted by the RIAI found that the majority of the general public (82%) were unaware that the title ‘Architect’ was not previously legally protected. Last year 80% of complaints received by the RIAI were related to unqualified practitioners.

01.10.2009 RIAI ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Limerick 1-3 November 2009

'Apart from the fact that it is the first institure of architects conference to be held on Irish soil for many years, there is an urgent imperative to assert the voice of the profession in the recovery of the Irish economy and society.
The themes of the conference seek to re-position the profession of architecture in its most positive role – the profession of a social art.' -RIAI President Sean O'Laoire, Sept '09

The Conference will be held in the Strand Hotel, Limerick on Monday, 2 November, and Tuesday Morning, 3 November. RIAI website for more details

15.08.2009 Spirit Store Limerick

The SpiritStore Art Cafe presents a collection of diverse cultural activities over the months of August and September to be hosted in the unique environment of a Limerick landmark,The Sarsfield Bar. In the coming weeks The SpiritStore project seeks to infuse this reclaimed space with an busy collection of talks, performances, debates / discussions, screenings, readings, meetings and chance encounters with musicians, writers, visual artists, film makers, collectives, as well as varied clubs and societies.This inclusive experiment is an open invitation for all of Limerick to experience, absorb and creatively contribute to an exciting project. The Sarsfield Bar is located on the corner of Rutland St and Bank Place directly across from the Hunt Museum. The Sprit Store Art Cafe opens on the 9th of August until the 30th of September with a preview on August 8th at 5.00pm .Opening times are 12.00 til sunset Tuesday to Sunday inclusive.

/////UPDATE 04 SEPTEMBER 2009/////

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009, starting 5 pm

SAUL, the School of Architecture at UL, engages in Limerick – presentation in support of the SpiritStore initiative to hold open discussions on the creative future of Limerick.

Grainne Hassett
ONE CITY  Six architectural policies for Limerick
A talk and discussion on the results of the recent work of the Regional Planning Think Tank at SAUL.Grainne Hassett is a distinguished Dublin-based architect, author and senior lecturer at SAUL.

Elizabeth Hatz
Portrait of a City – Notes on the Potential of Limerick, Observations on qualities found and ideas for qualities to create. Elizabeth Hatz is Professor of Architecture, both at the KTH Stockholm and SAUL.

The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick (SAUL) held a summer-long 'strategic planning think tank', devised by Professor Merritt Bucholz, SAUL faculty and architecture students in cooperation with students from Limerick's Graduate School of Medicine. Substantial analysis of Limerick as ONE CITY embedded in its region and six proposals for development policies along with a comprehensive neighbourhood profiling as well as a specific design proposal for a new kind of public space for Southill were presented to and discussed with planning officials, senior architects, visiting professors and UL faculty at the SAUL studio on August 25th, 2009. The work and concluding event received high appraise (Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0826/1224253267513.html).

04.07.2009 Building Energy Rating Certificates

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has recently announced new figures for the Building Energy Rating (BER) scheme which show that over 40,000 BER certificates have been issued by SEI since 1^st January  2009 when it became mandatory by law for all homes offered for sale or rent to have a BER. Combined with the number of BER certificates issued prior to this date during the phased implementation, a total of 44,000 BERs are now published on the SEI website at www.sei.ie/ber. There are currently over 2,700 BER assessors registered with SEI to carry out this work, including T. Feeney of Feeney McMahon Architects.

Kevin O'Rourke, Head of Built Environment, SEI said; "These figures show that, despite a slow housing market, a strong surge in demand for BER certification has been maintained through the first half of 2009. This indicates a positive willingness among property vendors and their agents to meet their legal obligations, and an awareness by home viewers of their entitlement to the BER. The BER concept is about empowering consumer choice, and encouraging building owners to take steps to improve their home's energy rating with the accompanying benefits in energy savings, improved comfort and a better quality national building stock. SEI has continued its public information campaign to raise awareness levels among buyers and sellers alike. This will add further impetus to the enforcement activities of local authority building control officers to achieve comprehensive compliance, and we expect significant further increases in BER numbers to year end."

A BER, which is a requirement of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive,  is similar to the energy label on a fridge and carries a scale from A1-G, with A1 being the most efficient. By law, a BER certificate must be supplied by anyone selling or letting a home and can only be provided by a BER assessor who is registered with SEI. The BER makes the energy performance of a home visible to prospective buyers and tenants and enables them to take energy performance into consideration in their building purchase or rental decision. 

If you have any queries or need a quotation for certification services from Feeney McMahon please don't hesitate to get in touch.

14.05.2009 SAUL End of Year Show

The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick  (SAUL) is organising its first End of Year Show.

The venue for this event is St. Munchin's Church of Ireland, King's Island and will run from Friday 15th May until Sunday 17th May.

The opening will be on Friday 15th May at 6:30pm. 

 The exhibition will showcase a selection of students'  work made during this past year.

The venue itself represents the work done this year by fourth year students. In a successful collaboration between the School of Architecture, the University of Limerick and Limerick Civic Trust, St. Munchin's interior has been renovated by the students themselves into a multi-purpose space for lectures, exhibitions and other cultural events.

SAUL End of Year Show

Exhibition launch: Friday  May 15th, 6:30pm

Opening hours: Saturday  May 16th   11am - 5pm, Sunday  May  17th 11am - 5pm

Address: St. Muchin's Church of Ireland. Church Street, Limerick (beside Limerick Civic Trust, directly opposite St. John's Castle)